I discovered her by her Landslide cover and after listening to this new EP, it promises to be one to keep an ear out for!

LÅPSLEY – album “Long Way Home”

I don’t like all the songs of this album but her voice and electronic beats are good enough to make her earned her place here. Listening on repeat Hurt Me.

JACK GARRATT – debut album “Phase”

I discovered this London-based singer/producer/multi-instrumentalist just a few weeks ago and he successfully combines electro, R&B and beats with drums, keys and a laptop. Talent

Bonus : OH WONDER

Even if their album was released on september 2015 I couldn’t write this article without talking about this lovely duo i’m obsessed with. Oh Wonder is composed of Anthony West and Josephine Vander Gucht and is currently my favorite alt-pop duo. Cheesy and redundant at times ? Maybe. Still, i’m in love with their lyrics, vocals and melodies and can easily connect emotionally with each of their songs. Just pure gold to me.

I should have write this article long time ago, but didn’t really find the motivation at this time. But if you go to Taiwan, you should really go to these two places!

XIAO LIU QIU : Swim and snorkel with turtles in Taiwan in Xiao Liu Qiu (small island next to Kaoshiung) was a short but great experience. Short because we arrived a little bit late, try to catch a ferry in the morning to make sure to have time to explore this cute small island.

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MAOLIN PARK : Next day we went to see the Duona High Suspension Bridge, which is located about 2 hours and a half from Kaoshiung (by scooter) and waterfalls. Maolin is a park that offers different scenic spots as hand-built suspension bridges and waterfalls but also rituals and ceremonies. This district is one of the homelands of the Rukai aboriginal people.

To have more information about the location I invite you to read my friend’s post which is more complete, just HERE.

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To have more information about the location I invite you to read my friend’s post which is more complete, just HERE.

I spent my last christmas with my family in Siargao, one the 7 107 islands forming the Philippine archipelago.

It’s quite a travel to reach Siargao: First, you need to pass by Manila. Second, by Cebu. Third, by Surigao and then take a ferry to Siargao. We choose this way but you can also take a domestic flight directly from Cebu to Siargao but be careful because if the weather is bad they often cancel the flights.

We – or rather my dad and brothers – choose Siargao for its famous “9 Cloud Break“. Siargao is the surfing spot in Philippines but not only. We first stayed in Jafe Surf and Sail Resort (in the north-east of the island), a very quiet and peaceful place, with nice owners. But not much to do around, especially when it’s raining. So after few days, we leaved the north for General Luna (south of the island). I’ve got 2 recommendations for where to stay and eat in GL : Ocean 101 Cloud 9 Beach Resort and Emerald House Resort. Both have a nice atmosphere and delicious food is served there (Emerald’s chef is french and very good). Ocean 101 has a nice view on the ocean and a super friendly staff.

General Luna is the place to stay for surfers, there you can booked small boats for taking you to the surfing spots (Rock Island, Stimpy’s, etc).

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But Siargao isn’t only about surfing, it has beautiful white-sand beaches, natural pool (Magpupungko Pool located in Pilar), and also small island to visit around (Naked Island, Daku Island, Guam…). Daku or Dako Island was probably the most beautiful island i’ve ever seen : its crystal clear turquoise water is amazing. We booked a small nipa hut and had lunch over there. In General Luna you can also book snorkeling trips.

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Travel Tips for Siargao :

Rent scooters or bikes and drive all around the island

Book small boat to go surf or visit other islands

Go to Aventino’s Pizza for their tasty chocolate cake

Try Emerald’s red tuna filet breaded in sesame seeds

If you’re in the north you can stop at the Bollox Bar to have a burger (not the best i’ve tried but still good)

As a meat lover and burger expert, I was a little bit skeptical about getting a veggie burger. My curiosity took over my reticence and i’m so happy that I tried. While eating this veggie burger I didn’t even noticed that it was without meat inside. Well, I did notice it but didn’t miss it as much I thought I will. This Eggplant Bacon Cheese burger, from Ooh Cha Cha next to Guting MRT in Taipei, was so surprisingly good and tasty ! My friend had the Mushroom and Pesto burger. In both of this burger, the steak has been replaced by a red beetroot steak, and in mine the bacon by eggplant slices.

For our drinks, we had the Fruity Punch made of strawberry, organic apple, mango, organic seasonal greens and freshly squeezed orange juice and the Berry FulFilling made of apple juice, strawberry, blueberry, homemade almond butter and romaine.

I highly recommend this place to all the veggies/vegans but also to anyone who likes to eat healthy food. Next time, I’ll have to try their Organic Kind Bowls and Raw Desserts!

I’ve been to japan last february for 8 days. I spent this days with my brother who was already there. I was afraid that 8 days will not be enough but finally we managed to visit Tokyo, Osaka and Kyoto !

We first spent our 4 first days in Tokyo, visiting as much I we could (Odaiba, Shibuya, Shinjuku, Akasuka, Harajuku, Ueno Park, Yoyogi Park and Meiji-Jingu, Ginza, Kabukichô). We’ve been really lucky with the weather and also had the opportunity to ear a free philharmonic orchestra while we were only searching to visit Tokyo University.

To reach Osaka we decided to take a night bus (half price of a shinkansen ticket). The bus departed at 11:15pm and we arrived early in the morning around 6:30am. The bus was really conformable, probably the first time I succeed to really sleep in a bus. Bus company was Willer Express, you can book your seat on their website. We stayed in Osaka only one night and visited Osaka Castle, Shinsaibashi, Dotombori (by night) and Shinsekai.

We left Osaka the next morning and after 30 minutes in a train we arrived to the impressive Kyoto Station. We’ve been quite lucky with the weather for the first day but then it rained all day and it was difficult to stay motivated to visit temples. We visited Ginkakuji (you will see lot of tourist girls dressed as Geishas), walk along Tetsugaku no Michi (the Philosopher’s Path), Pontocho (during night), Shinbashi Dori, Teramachi, Shijo-Dori. Still miss a lot of temples and places but didn’t have time in 2 days.

I took again a night bus to go back to Tokyo but this time the bus wasn’t comfortable at all and I couldn’t sleep. My brother stayed in Kyoto and my flight was at 8pm. What could do a girl alone in Tokyo for her last day ? SHOPPING of course! But wasn’t as good as I expected.

Good addresses/tips :

ABC Ramen, in Ginza, Tokyo –> their sesame ramen was crazy good!

Siddique Shinjuku Nishiguchi Ekimae, in Shinjuku, Tokyo –> a good indian, their naan are huge and I advise you to try their spinach curry.

I love this cupcakes so much and I miss cooking them ! That’s one of the disadvantage of living in Taiwan. No real kitchen with oven, so no baking for me. Instead, I’m going to share with you my recipe for this delicious cupcakes.

Topping:
1) Mix 200g of chocolate with 7,5cl of milk
2) Add 175g of Icing sugar/confectioners sugar
3) Let cool the taupins mix in fridge for 10min to obtain a thick frosting. Fill the piping bag with the topping and put it on the cupcakes!